Improvement in nursing-shields



S ATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN w. PATCH, on BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVE'MIENII' IN NURSING-SHIELDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,594, dated October 30, 1877 application filed August 17, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. PATCH, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nursing-Shields and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in nursing-shields; and consists of a flanged nipple-protector, having an exterior screw-thread in its outer end, in combination with a detachable screw-threaded piece provided with two annular shoulders, to either of which a rubber nipple can be attached. One of said shoulders being larger than the other, it admits of the use of a large or small rubber nipple, as may be required. In addition to the said nipple-shoulders, the detachable piece is provided, in its upper end, with a small shoulder, to which the end of a suction-tube can be attached, the other end of said tube being provided with a rubber nipple similar to What is used on ordinary nursing-bottles.

The object of this invention is to combine in one apparatus an open-end ventilating nipple-protector and a practical nursing-shield, having all the necessary and desirable points of construction comprisedinthevarious shields now in use, thus saving the expense and inconvenience of using a separate apparatus for each purpose.

The shield is designed to be worn as a support and protection to sore nipples, and will usually be kept in its proper position on the breast by the pressure of the clothing; but, if necessary, it can be further secured by a bandage passing around the body, with small holes cut through such bandage to receive the neck of the shield- In case the natural nipple is too small, thereby preventing the child from nursing directly from the breast, the wearing of this shieldwill greatly assist in its development. It also forms the most convenient method of applying ointments, embrocations, glycerites, and other curative applications, and prevents them from being rubbed ofl or absorbed by the clothing, thus obtaining the full effects of the remedies, and saving the clothing from soiling.

Besides preventing all the irritation caused by chafing and pressure of the clothing, it also allows the evaporation of moisture and secretions through the open end, which, if rctained upon the natural nipple, would add greatly to the soreness and prolong the time required for its cure.

When used as a nursing-shield, and combined with the detachable screw-threaded shoulder-piece and a nipple or suction tube, as may be desired, I prefer to make the said shield of transparent glass, by which it can be seen at once whether the child is drawing any milk from the breast-a very necessary and desirable feature of a perfect shield, and one not obtained by shields made from other materials.

The advantage of the detachable screwthreaded piece, With its various-sized shoulders, consists in permitting large or small nipples to be used, as the child may require, and of allowing the use of a suction-tube, if desired, enabling the mother to nurse the child, while traveling or on other occasions, without exposure.

On the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the shield, its detachable screw-threaded shoulder-piece, and suction-tube; and Fig. 2 represents a central longitudinal section of the nursing-shield with nipple attached.

Similar letters refer to similar parts Wherever they occur on the drawings.

0. represents flanged shield or protector, provided with the external screw-thread b in its outer end, as shown. 0 represents the detachable piece, having an internal screwthread made to fit the external screw-thread b on the protector a. The detachable piece 0 is provided with the shoulders 01 and e, of different sizes, so as to admit of the use of va-' rious sizes of rubber nipples, as may be required. f represents the small shoulder, for the purpose of attaching thereto a suctiontube, g, as shown in Fig. 1, to the other end of which is secured a rubber nipple, h, as here inbefore described. *5 represents the rubber nipple attached to one of the shoulders on the detachable piece 0, as shown in Fig. 2.

I am aware of the patent granted, on the 13th day of January, 1857, No. 16,396, to James Parker, for a plain open-mouthed nurs' ing-shield, and I wish to state that I do not claim anything as set forth in said patent as my invention; but

What I Wish to secure by Letters Patent, and claim, is-

In combination with the screw threaded nipple-protector 01 the detachable piece ahavmg one or more shoulders do ej; in a manner and for the purpose asherein set'forth and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as own invention I have aifixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OHN W. PATCH. Witnesses ALBAN ANDREN', HENRY GHAnBoURN. 

